English Translation:
The large Atlas (Map) of Dutch East India, 2nd extended edition, gives, besides the impressive number of 530 topographic maps, also the names and short descriptions of 2400 cultivation companies, with a short description from each. This book weighs an impressive 8 kilo (ca. 18 pounds) and has 480 pages, measuring 33 by 46 cm (13 by 24 inches) and is 6 cm (2.4 inches) thick. This 2nd edition was sold out quickly in 2004 and can only be bought through antique book shops. It costed € 265 originally. Publisher: Asia Maior / KNAG, 2004; email: www.asiamaior.nl and fax: +31 (0)111 417 281.

Celebes Mijnbouw Maatschappij "Balotji", N.V.
Established in 1897 in Amsterdam, liquidated in 1902; Bewijs van aandeel f 200 (share certificate of DGL 200); Amsterdam Nov. 15th 1897; rare SPECIMEN from the famous printer De bussy, Amsterdam; 23 x 17 cm., black decorative border, price € 50. Director was A. Chaplin; purpose of the company was the mining of precious metals in the sub-division Bergregentschappen of the department of Noorder-districten in the gouvernement Celebes and dependencies belonging to the Balotji regency.

Exploratie- en Mijnbouw-Maatschappij "Gorontalo", N.V.
Established in Amsterdam on Nov. 1st 1897; Bewijs van aandeel f 1000 (share certificate DGL 1000); rare SPECIMEN from the famous printer De Bussy, Amsterdam, 1897; brown decorative border and print; 23 x 17 cm.; condition EF; price € 50.VVOF catalogus no. NI C 0049; purpose of the company was to search for precious metal grounds in the districts of Kotta, Bone, Kabila and Batoe Daä in the department of Gorontalo in the residence of Menado, Northern Celebes; The company was liquidated in 1904.

Exploratie- en Mijnbouw Maatschappij "Limba Kabila"
Founded in 1898 in Amsterdam, liquidated in 1904; Aandeel f 250 (share of DGL 250), Druk (printer): De Bussy-Amst.; green decorative border and texts; ca. 15 x 23 cm., original signature of board member (commissaris) C.R.T. Kraaijenhoff and facs. signature of director F.H. de Kock van Leeuwen; condition EF à UNC = almost print fresh, price € 20.VVOF catalogue no. NIC 0068; H. van Son was the 2nd director; Goal was to acquire and utilise mining concessions in Dutch East Indies. Brought in were 2 licences from the resident of Menado from 1897, to operate in the districts of Telaga, Kota, Tapa, Kabila and Bone and a terrainin the district Pagoejama in the assistent residence of Gorontalo.

Mijnbouw Maatschappij "Bendisberg", N.V.
Founded in Amsterdam in 1898; Oprichtersbewijs (Founder certificate); 2 original signatures from the board members A.J. Labouchère and Jhr. H. M. Huijdecoper; 25 x 17 cm.; Typ. and Lith. J.H. de Bussy, A'dam; black decorative border, condition VF-: burning stains on borders, but these are mainly visible on the back side; price € 50. VVOF-catalogue no. NL H 0076b: Goal of the company was the exploitation of zinc, lead, and copper mines in Germany; they started with taking over the exploitation of the mines in Adenay and Mayen in the Eifel mountains, named Gute Hoffnung (Good Hope) Bernardi et Suzanne and also the consolidated mine Sanct Joster Ertsbergwerk Bendisberg. The company was liquidated in 1913.

Noord-Celebes Mijnbouw Maatschappij, N.V.
Established in Amsterdam in 1897; Bewijs van aandeel f 1000 (Share certificate of DGL 1000); rare SPECIMEN from the archives of the famous printer De Bussy in Amsterdam (probably less than 5 pieces known); brown decorative border, 17 x 23 cm.; condition UNC = print fresh, Price € 50. VVOF Catalogue no. NI C 0014; director was Jhr. P.H. Bicker. Goal of the company was to acquire mining rights for mining precious metals in Dutch East India, sale of the ore or metal and trade in these matters. The company was liquidated in 1909.

Mijnbouw-Maatschappij "Highland"
VVOF-Catalogue no. NL H 0176; founded in 1910;
's Gravenhage, 1910, bewijs van
aandeel f 250 (share of DGL 250) with original signatures of director A. Hulshoff Pol and board member (NL: commissaris) H.J. Hoogeveen; blue border, orange tax stamp; complete coupon sheet attached:
---------- Conditie VF: onbeschadigd maar wel div. malen gevouwen, prijs € 50.
---------- conditie VF-: bovenrand heeft diverse beschadigingen, € 10. Goal of the company was acquiring and exploiting the gold fields in the county Siskiyou (California) known under the name "Highland Ninety nine group of gold quarts mining claims", and marketing and selling the produce of these fields. In 1918 the Company became insolvent and it gradually (?) disappeared later on (?).

Mijnbouw Maatschappij "Odin"
Founded in Amsterdam in 1890; Bewijs van 1/20e aandeel groot f 60 (certificate of 1/20th
share, in the amount of DGL 60), Amsterdam 1890; blue decorative border, 25 x 37 cm.; complete coupon sheet attached; 3 original signatures: from board members (commissarissen) P. Lycklema à Nyeholt en P.F. Baron van Heerdt en van director Mr. P.H. Scholten;
---------- condition VF: 3 horizontal folds and in right border a light stain, price € 75.
---------- condition VF: 3 horizontal folds and in right border 3 stains, price € 45. VVOF Catalogue no. NL H 0209d; Goal of this gold mining co. was to take over the Odin ownership in the quarter Vensterkroon of the gold fields of Potchefstroom at the bank of the river Vaal in South Afrika, as well as exploitation and sale of the products and also the purchase of other mining rights.Odin, or Wodan is the Nordic upper God, a fierce warrier frequently riding of into battles with his Walküre, beautiful woman worriers (his servants or daughters) on horses.

Mijnbouw Maatschappij "Soemalata", N.V.
This gold mining company was founded in Amsterdam in 1896 by director H. J. Bauermann. The original Capital of 1,5 million Guilders was raised several times later on. Bewijs van aandeel f 250 (Share certificate of DGL 250), Amsterdam 1901; 2 original signatures, one of board member (commissaris) C.J. van Schelle, the other of a director; 28 x 22 cm., brown decorative border and texts as well as green texts; separate complete coupon sheet; condition VF: 2 vertical folds, partly torn a bit at the edges; price € 50. The Bauermann family were the first to apply for a gold mining concession in 1885 in Soemalata, in the region of Gorontalo on Northern Celebes, although already since 1865 some gold was dug here on a limited scale. This application became the start of a "gold rush". The Bauermanns received in 1890 an exploration license and only in 1894 an exploitation license. In 1896 this license was brought in into the N.V. Mijnbouw Maatschappij "Soemalata". H.J. Bauermann became director and his brother D.T. Bauermann became the agent in Gorontalo. However, already in 1898 a subagent of the NHM (Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij) reported that North Celebes appeared to be far from the gold land one had figured. The company did not really flourish and dug up 1500 kilo's of gold since 1900. Apart from this company, the Bauermann brothers had stakes in another 5 mining companies. After 1906 the Gold Rush in Northern Celebes was over. Source: Het Indische Handelshuis Bauermann in de 19e eeuw.

The Diamond Jubilee Mineral Development Company of Ontario, Canada Ltd. Share warrant to bearer of 5 shares of 1 $ each, no. 5290; Toronto, febr. 1898, printed by Alexander & Co., Ltd., Toronto; text in black and white, both in English and French, with large gold seal and 2 small pictures of beavers; a beauty to frame ! measuring ca. 21 x 35 cm (9 x 14 inch); couponsheet attached as originally issued, one coupon cut for dividend; condition EF = extremely fine, unfolded, almost as new; price € 95.

This share warrant is depicted on the cover of the German share collector's magazine "der Aktiensammler" no 6, 2008. Page 10 and 11 are an article "Fascination Diamanten: Edelsteine im Spiegel Historischer Wertpapiere" (Engl.: Diamond fascination: gems mirrorred by historic stocks). However, a diamond share collector pointed out to me that this company is probably an ordinary mining company, not involved in diamonds. We can see a correct definition in WIKIPEDIA : A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60thanniversary in the case of a person (e.g. wedding anniversary, length of time a monarch has reigned as King or Queen, etc.) or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event (e.g. the founding of a university), such as in the case of the University of Nottingham'sJubilee Campus

In this context , the term of mineral is used frequently for rocks, earths and metallic ores and very rarely for a gemmy material.

Zece actijni nominative representano suma de lei 5000, in the name of René Marcovici, Bucaresti, 1923; very decorative mining share certificate (ca. 20 x 35 cm + coupons attached) showing 2 work men and 4 engravings of industrial processes such as mining towers and an oil well spouting out oil into the air.

Société Anonyme Turque de Mines de Balia-Karaidin,
Large illustration by Henri Brauer of a woman with an oil lamp, railroad,
equipment and a view on Constantinople.Action
de 100 Fr, Constantinople 1926, brun sur vert, text in Roman and Arabic,
price 50 Euro

United
Kingdom of Great BritainKenya Consolidated Goldfields, Ltd.
London, 1936; incorporated in the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya in February 1933 to acquire, work and develop mines and mining rights in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika. The company was wound-up in March 1952. Signed by Sir Percy Winn Everett.
Certificates of x shares ( = 250), in the name of
Reginald Howard Bickerton of 5 Eaton Gardens, Hove, Sussex; black
decorative border; size: 29 by 27,5 cm., VF, tiny hole in left upper
corner, see picture,
price 25 Euro..

USA:
coal and iron mining
The Virginia Coal and Iron Company
Incorporated in 1882 in the state of Virginia, head quarter in Big
Stone Gap; having land holdings in Lee and Wise counties, Virginia and
in Harlan county, Kentucky. Certificate no. 2051 of X shares of 100 $
each, in a capital of 5 million $, 1924; orange
border and white imprinted company seal; print: Security Banknote
Co., Phila.; on the back: 2 red stock transfer stamps of 20 cents, and
1 of 4 cents, all with overprint "'State Printery"', and 2
documentary stamps , of 4 and of 40 cents (red); price 50 Euro.
vignette: 5 by 5 cm. engraving
of the allegorical figure Virtus (Virtue) in harness, holding a
sword and a spear in her hands and treading down the allegorical
Tyranny, his crown fallen from his head; a broken chain and sword lying
next
to him. Text: "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS" (Engl.: Thus Always to Tyrants;
NL.:
Zo gaat het tirannen altijd), according to Bob Kerstein (www.Bob.com)
the
motto of the state of Virginia, wheras this allegorical figure of
Virtue is representing the spirit of the British Commonwealth,
illustrting struggle that has ended in complete victory. Hall, (1993,
p. 78) mentions that in
Gothic sculpture a particular Virtue (there were quite a number) often
treads down the vice belonging to it. I invite those who know more, to
send me further comments on the correct interpretation of this
engraving. And, is there any reason why the company would choose this
vignette for it's stock ?
USA: copper mining
Anaconda Copper Mining Company
Incorporated under Montana law; print: ABNC; 12 by 6 cm vignetteof mining plant;
---------- green border, 100 shares, 1955, 40 Euro
---------- brown border, 10 shares, 1940, 45 Euro
---------- brown border, 10 shares, 1954, 40 Euro

Homestake Mining Company
Incorporated in 1877 under Californian law; print: ABNC; 13 by 6 cm. vignette of 2 indians, a
train and
river; < 100 shares, red border, 1931; some staple rust traces;
35
Euro.
USA: gold mines
Argonaut Mill & Mining Co.
Incorporated, june 18th 1879 in San
Francisco;Capital stock 2 million $ (20.000 shares of 100$); certificate nr 129 (in blue figures) of x = 100 shares,
dated January 7th 1880, in the name of John Sproston Jr., who endorsed
the certificate on the back in order to have it registered in the
companies book after handing over this certificate.Small size (10 by 24
cm) and on pink paper. Original signatures of secretary (Fields ?) and
director (Davenput ?); Litography by Britton & Rey S.F.; Above the
lower border it reads Eldorado Co., Cal.;
Price: 250 Euro. See this certificate and it's Beautiful
6 by 4 cm vignette of the mythological ship the ARGO, the famous
and heroic crew of which were called the ARGNAUTS. See the story of this famous
journey led by Iason, who went out to get the Golden Fleece, and also
have a look at a map of their
journey. Now, the videorelease can be hired of the
beautiful 1999 film (172 minutes !) "Jason and the Argonauts". It
covers only half the journey described here, but is an adventure film
worth seeing !
Adventurers who went to California in search of gold soon after its
discovery there in 1848, were called Argonauts, so I take it that the
Argonaut Mill and Mining Co. was a gold mining and processing company.

Gold Mines of Kalgoorlie Ltd.
Incorporated under the laws of Victoria, Australia; issued by the Bank
of New York in 1991; American
depositary receipt for 1 share of a par value of 0,05 $
Australian., blue border, no engraved vignette, price 25 Euro